INTRODUCTION. 



XClll 



Tlic high price of linseed oil, as well as of linseed oil-cake during the war, will doubtless stimu 

 late the growth of flax for seed as well as for the fibre. American oil-cake finds a ready market in 

 England at high prices ; but it would seem that so valuable a food might be used on our own farms 

 with decided advantage. It is not only highly nutritious for cattle and sheep, but the manure derived 

 from the animals eating it is more than twice as valuable as that from animals fed on Indian corn. 

 Our fanners have not yet learned to appreciate the full value of manures, and it is rare that the question 

 of the relative value of manures from different foods is taken into consideration in determining what 

 particular sustenance it is best to give our farm stock. 



In this connexion we would call particular attention to the following table prepared by John B. 

 Lawes, the well-known English scientific agriculturist, showing the value of manure made from a ton 

 (2,000 pounds) of different foods : 



Description of food. Value. 



1. Decorticated cotton-seed cake 827 8G 



2. Rape cake 21 01 



3. Linseed cake 19 72 



4. Malt dust 1821 



.*&amp;gt;. Lentils 1651 



6. Linseed 15 65 



7. Tares 15 75 



8. Beans 15 75 



9. Peas 13 38 



10. Locust beans 4 81 



11. Oats 7 40 



12. Wheat 7 08 



13. Indian corn 6 65 



Description of food. Value. 



14. Malt SG 65 



15. Barley G 32 



16. Clover hay 9 64 



17. Meadow hay 6 43 



18. Oat straw 2 90 



19. Wheat straw 2 68 



20. Barley straw 2 25 



21. Potatoes 



22. Mangolds 



23. Swedish turnips 



24. Common turnips 



25. Carrots.. 



1 50 



1 07 



91 



86 



86 



This table deserves to be profoundly studied by every farmer. Mr. Lawes has been engaged for 

 many years in experiments on this subject, and we have no doubt that the table correctly states the 

 relative value of the manures obtained from the different foods ; that is to say, if the manure obtained 

 from the consumption of a ton of meadow hay is worth $6 43, that made from a ton of clover hay is 

 worth $9 G4, or half as much again; and this is true everywhere. The estimates are based on the value 

 of manure in England, and arc undoubtedly correct; but of course the figures are only true relatively 

 where manures of all kinds are of less value, as is the case in the newer sections of this country. 



It will be seen that the manure made from a ton of linseed cake is estimated at $19 72; while 

 from a ton of Indian corn it is estimated at only 86 65. 



It must be borne in mind that these are gold values. At the present time the value of the manures 

 in our currency would be more than doubled. If these few remarks should be the means of calling 

 the attention of American farmers to this important branch of rural economy much good will be ac 

 complished. 



COT T N. 



The amount of ginned cotton raised in the United States in 1860 was 5,387,052 bales, of 400 

 pounds each, or 2,154,820,800 pounds. 



In 1850 there was 2,445,793 bales of cotton raised in the United States, or less than half the 

 amount produced in 1860. 



